Seven Principles for Cultivating Communities of Practice

An outline of the seven principles for cultivating communities of practice from Etienne Wenger's book.

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/2855.html

From their experience they derived:

1. Design for evolution.
2. Open a dialogue between inside and outside perspectives.
3. Invite different levels of participation.
4. Develop both public and private community spaces.
5. Focus on value.
6. Combine familiarity and excitement.
7. Create a rhythm for the community.

The 7th 'create a rhythm for the community' is particularly relevant I feel and is something we've employed in our Diabetes Diploma course at Cardiff University - the use of weekly case problems. Rhythm maintains engagement.